Reduced torque lock assembly

Abstract

A valve cover lock assembly for a pump having a fluid end module can include a ring adapted to couple to the module, an insert comprising a plurality of segments, and a cone adapted to couple with the insert, wherein the ring comprises a first coupler and the insert comprises a second coupler configured to couple with the first coupler, wherein the cone is configured to move one or more of the plurality of segments when the cone is moved, and wherein the first and second couplers are adapted to at least partially resist movement of the insert. A method of locking a valve cover can include coupling a ring to a valve cover opening, disposing an insert comprising a plurality of segments at least partially within the ring, coupling an actuator to the insert, and coupling the insert to the ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lock assembly for sealing a fluid opening of a bore in a body, the lock assembly comprising:
 an insert having an opening there through and comprising a plurality of segments, an interior wall and an exterior wall, wherein the insert is configured to be disposed at least partially within an opening in a ring; 
 a cone having an opening there through and an exterior wall, wherein the cone is configured to be disposed at least partially within the opening through the insert; and 
 a cone nut configured to be disposed at least partially within the opening through the cone, the cone nut having a first end adapted to couple with a cover for the fluid opening; 
 wherein the exterior wall of the insert comprises one or more couplers configured to couple with the ring; 
 wherein the cone is configured to move at least one of the plurality of segments of the insert radially outwardly when the cone is moved in a first direction relative to the insert; and 
 wherein the one or more couplers are adapted to at least partially resist axial movement of the insert relative to the ring when the one or more couplers are coupled with the ring. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a ring, wherein the ring is configured to be coupled to the body with an opening in the ring disposed in fluid communication with the fluid opening. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the first end of the cone nut, wherein the cone nut is configured to move the cone and cover toward one another when the cone nut is tightened. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior wall of the cone is of a stepped taper. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the insert is of a stepped taper. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior wall of the cone comprises a taper of 6°, about 6° or less than 6°. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the insert comprises a taper of 6°, about 6° or less than 6°. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the first end of the cone nut, and wherein the one or more couplers are adapted to at least partially resist axial movement of the cover relative to the fluid opening when the one or more couplers are coupled with the ring. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cone nut retainer coupled to the cone, the cone nut retainer having an opening there through. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the cone nut has a second end disposed at least partially within the opening through the cone nut retainer. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more couplers comprise at least one of one or more extensions, one or more grooves and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more couplers comprise at least one extension and at least one groove having cross-sectional profiles that are V-shaped, truncated V-shaped or buttress-shaped. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more couplers comprise one or more extensions or one or more grooves having a taper of 22.5° or about 22.5°. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the ring further comprises an interior wall, an exterior wall and one or more through holes from the interior wall to the exterior wall. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments comprises three or more segments. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of segments is movably coupled to an adjacent one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a dowel coupled to at least one of the plurality of segments, and wherein at least one of the plurality of segments includes an opening configured to slideably receive at least a portion of the dowel. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments is coupled together with one or more elastic biasing devices configured to bias the plurality of segments radially inwardly. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the exterior wall of the cone and the interior wall of the insert comprises two tapered sections having a step there between, the step being disposed at an angle of 45° or about 45°. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover adapted to couple to the cone nut, wherein the first end of the cone nut is adapted to couple with a threaded portion of the cover.